Push-To-Talk now available for Verizon BlackBerry smartphones

It was mentioned in one of our whispers and now it’s here: Verizon has released a Push-To-Talk application for its fleet of BlackBerry smartphones. Free to download but requiring a monthly fee of $5 to use, Verizon’s BlackBerry PTT app allows for unlimited nation-wide calls to other PTT devices. Other key features include:

Make group calls with up to 50 participants.

Use Presence to see who’s available for Push to Talk calls.

Manage Push to Talk contacts for your entire company online.

Access email and the Web while you’re on Push to Talk calls.

For the price, we’d say it’s definitely a good deal if you have a lot of family/friends/co-workers that have a PTT capable device, but for everyone else it’s $5 that could better be spent on a pint. Now if only this app were released alongside OS 5.0…

Thats cool. Id pitch in $5 a month for this if it was an option on my device.

TypicalVerizonDBAG

This is a great service that only Verizon Wireless can offer. I think it will be huge among our customer base in the blackberry market. It would be annoying like it is black people in the mall either since we are too expensive for the ghetto types. It will be confined to business types I’m sure. What a great day to be on Verizon Wireless!

AusFest

Thanks for the most valuable information DBAG!

smel

dont this this is available on the 8330 curve

joe cool

how does it work? the side button?

Jim

What models have been approved for the feature? And how come I’m stuck with the PTT blackberry from sprint.

I wish the bold could have a PTT in sprint. Do you think it will become available for sprint?

DavidB

Considering there isn’t a Bold that works on Sprint or Verizon (yet), no. Sprint seems to be phasing out their EV-DO PTT service anyway, so it’s unlikely they would support PTT on them even if if they DO get the new Bold 9650 (or 9750 or whatever) or the Talladega 9930.

ChocoTaco

I’ve really enjoyed being out in public so much better without the ‘chirping’ and speakerphone conversations. Nothing like a Nextel to ruin dinner or a train ride.

rrt190

Next time ask them “hey whats that button with a picture of a speaker on it for?”

TypicalVerizonDBAG

It won’t be annoying like it is with black people in the mall either since we are too expensive for those ghetto types. It will be confined to business people I’m sure. What a great day to be on Verizon Wireless!

Brock

Uhh, AT&T had PTT on some BlackBerry smartphones a few years ago and still do. What’s the big deal?

doug

yeah, thats what i was wondering…maybe big red disabled that feature on their models.

a group of us at some at&t stores in cleveland used it frequently and it worked really well, but it looks like this might be a better software integration?

DavidB

Verizon has never had a push to talk capable BlackBerry.

Vzwguy29

Att and Ptt don’t even go in the same sentance. Enough said. That’s like saying US Cell and best smart phones… people just laugh.

rrt190

This is Verizon’s PTT. Sprint dumped there CDMA PTT

JSayers

The longer VZ delays os 5.0 the more I hate my fucking blackberry. Email and the web were both better on my old treo than they are on this tour, I’m done with BB’s as soon as I can upgrade early.

AHha

WhatTF is so good about 5.0 that makes you wanna jizz? You must really need the clock and the threaded text messages that badly. Truely PATHETIC

StevenGlansburg

It’s surprisingly smoother, faster and the threaded messaging is very welcome. So I mean, don’t knock it til you try it.

Fyrfyter

Why don’t you just stop waiting and get one of the Beta releases? VZW is slow as hell rolling out OS updates. My Storm 2 is already up to OS 5.0.0.517, while VZW shows theirs at 5.0.0.321

DavidB

Moron. OS 5.0 for the Tour has been available for months, just not “official” from Verizon. But who cares, get it from BlackBerry.com under SaskTel or MTS Mobility and install it and quit whining.

Perspective

What they really need is “push to care.”

Fyrfyter

This is such a stupid idea. Nobody is going to pay $5 for PTT when I can call someone else on VZW for FREE! Duh, that wasn’t hard to figure out! Remember unlimited mobile to mobile?

rrt190

so don’t order it.

DavidB

Wrong. MANY Verizon BlackBerry customers will sign up for this. MANY.

Chachtastic

Who still uses PTT? Im amazed phones still come out with PTT capability.

Naga_mas007

naga

jeremy

Is this functionality possible with sprint or is it specific to verizon’s cdma platform? I know they won’t work between networks just want to know if this could ever come to sprint?

ScottB

I’d like to know where the software can be downloaded from and what bb models it will work on.
So far i see a lot of comments, but not one bit of proof that it really exists

StevenGlansburg

it doesn’t work between networks so its pretty useless in my opinion. Plus the Blackberrys on Verizon are pretty weak.

Batman

Your opinion is worthless!

Firecop1

I already have the push to talk and have been very happy with it. I would love to switch it over to my BB Tour but Like ScottB says, there does not seem to be any real info on where to get it or what phones it will work on. Hoping for more info here.

Carmen

So it looks like it’s only amongst Verizon wireless customers, and not a BlackBerry-wide thing? That is how I figured it, I guess I was just hoping that it was universal.

P.S. Just yesterday i found an app for the iPhone that allows for a PTT-ish setup. It works across cellular networks and will notify people without the app open that they have a message. It’s called HeyTell. I love it.

Percy

Funny story! i just came from a VZW store in Manhattan, @ reps and the store manager said they HAD NO CLUE of any update, they also said that the BGR artical must be mistaken! WTF! i know BGR is on point. Has anyone got the app already?

Manhorde

Eh, it’s a great solution for that business accuont that has a bunch of field guys using PTT only devices with voice turned off. Now the Foreman or owner or whoever is using a BB in the office can use PTT to communicate with workers in the field. PTT only is good to keep costs down for those that have no need to call anyone but workers. They can still call 911 or customer service, just not dial any number they like, since it’s restricted to PTT only. With PTT on a BB, now everyone in the company can get ahold of each other, even BB users.

I’ve been looking for the app all day. I’m a business owner & I paln on adding this feature to all of the BlackBerry’s on my account. Unfortunately, I can’t find the app nor was there a way to add the feature to my monthly plan. Maybe the PTT will be rolling out in the near future.

asldk2

If I hear any of you PTT morons in my immediate vicinity, I will PTT your phone on the ground and stomp on it with my feet and look square at you and say “I got your chirp right here, buddy!”

asldk2

LOL I would like to see you try.

Big Dog

Chirp! Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!

http://***Update**** digdog

This post was premature at best. Verizons PTT to talk is up & running according to their B2B website. I’ve had the impression its been running for well over a year.

As it stand right now Verzion does nt have any Blackberry’s capable of using the PTT feature. Thats the facts. This may change in the near future, but as of today. It’s not availble for Blackberry!!!

Another disappointment from Big Red!!! It’s getting very old.

Amber Lamps

PTT on vzw has a terrible delay. Its a useful feature for specific business reasons but most people don’t need it. And wow…what’s $5 more when you’re already over n$100 for a single line with 450 mins and unlimited* text?

Allan

Is that so? Last time I checked it was $59.99 for 450 Talk & Text plan which includes Unlimited texting and throw in a $29.99 Unlimited Email & Web Smartphone package which makes it $90. Add in your Employee discount if you work for a company and it’ll help with the monthly bill. Sure it’ll be $100 with taxes, but I could have sworn it’s equivalent to AT&T’s pricing…

Amber Lamps

I don’t care about att pricing. I mentioned the absurdity of heaping another $5 onto an already ridiculously bloated bill for a substandard service. Piss in my ear if you must, but don’t tell me its raining.

http://www.rossmanngroup.com Louis Rossmann

*chirp* *chirp* WHERE U AT

*chirp* *chirp* WHAT

*chirp* *chirp* WERE U AT BRAH

yeah, this technology should’ve died a long time ago. :(

asdlk2

*chirp* Hey!

*chirp* What’s up?

*chirp* Some guy is taking my phone and…

*chirp* I got his phone and I got your chirp right here..come and get it *smash*